Pulse Survey April-May 2022 - Our Lives Outdoors: Protection of the Environment

Young people aged 18 to 34 were the most likely to say they ate less animal-based products to protect the environment at 60%, compared with 30% of those aged 55 to 69 and 33% of those aged 70 and over. About six in ten older respondents in the age groups above 54 reported having invested in better insulation of their home. See Table 4.1.b.

Respondents who were students or pupils were more likely to report that they ate less animal-based products (65%) to protect the environment compared with those in retirement (27%). Reducing heating at home during winter was mainly reported by those engaged in home duties (65%), in employment (60%), unemployed (59%) or unable to work due to longstanding health problems (56%). Six in ten retired respondents (61%) mentioned investment in better insulation of their home. See Figure 4.2 and Table 4.1.b.

More than half of the participants in all regions, except the Midlands, mentioned reducing the heating of their home in the winter to protect the environment. Respondents living in the Midlands mainly said they reduced their use of water (58%). Participants living in the South-East (53%), Mid-West (52%) and Midlands (51%) regions were more likely to mention investing in better insulation of their homes compared with those living in the Dublin (38%) and Border (39%) regions. See Map 4.1 and Table 4.1.b.

Of the respondents who thought that there was still time to act and improve the state of the environment, 60% reduced the heating of their home in winter, and 57% reduced their use of water. Participants who thought that there was still time to act but that it was unlikely to happen also mentioned reducing their home heating in winter (62%) and their use of water (52%). See Table 4.1.c.

Students or pupils were the most likely to say they walk, cycle or use public transport instead of driving all or most of the time at 69%, compared with 45% of those who were unemployed, 33% of respondents who were employed, retired  or unable to work due to longstanding health problems, and less than 30% of those engaged in home duties. A third of participants engaged in home duties (30%) and 25% of those in employment reported that they never walked, cycled or used public transport instead of driving. See Table 4.2.b.

Respondents in urban areas were the most likely to walk, cycle or use public transport instead of driving all or most of the time (47%), while respondents in rural areas were the least likely at 15%. Almost half of the participants living in rural areas (45%) said they never walked, cycled or used public transport instead of driving. See Figure 4.5 and Table 4.2.c.

Participants who had no children in their household were more likely to say that they walked, cycled or used public transport instead of driving all or most of the time (38%) compared with those with children in their household (29%). See Table 4.2.c.

Just above six in ten (61%) of those who did not have access to a garden walked, cycled or used public transport instead of driving all or most of the time, while just over three in ten (34%) of those who had a garden did the same. See Figure 4.6 and Table 4.2.c.

About four in ten participants who said they already do a lot (44%) or do as much as they can (37%) to protect the environment walked, cycled or used public transport instead of driving all or most of the time compared with just over three in ten of those who said they could do more (32%). See Figure 4.7 and Table 4.2.c.

Almost 45% of participants who said they already do a lot to protect the environment bought organic or environmentally-friendly products all or most of the time, compared with 30% of those who said they do as much as they can and 20% of respondents who said they could do more. See Figure 4.9 and Table 4.3.c.

Just under nine in ten respondents who thought that there was still time to act on environmental issues said they bought organic or environmentally-friendly products at least some of the time. See Table 4.3.c.

The amount of waste produced was reduced all or most of the time by 67% of respondents unable to work due to longstanding health problems, 65% of those in retirement and 60% of respondents engaged in home duties. Participants who were unemployed (57%), employed (56%) or students or pupils (50%) were less likely to reduce the amount of waste they produced all or most of the time. See Table 4.4.b. 

Participants who had access to a garden were more likely to say they reduced the amount of waste they produced all or most of the time (59%), compared with those who did not have access to a garden (46%). See Table 4.4.c. 

Almost half (47%) of the respondents who said they already do a lot to protect the environment said they reduced the amount of waste they produced all the time, compared with 25% of those who said they do as much as they can to protect the environment and just 13% of those who said they could do more to protect the environment. See Figure 4.11 and Table 4.4.c.

Retired participants (56%) and those who were unemployed (46%) were the most likely to buy products grown locally or in season either all or most of the time, while students or pupils (35%) and those in employment (32%) were the least likely to do it all or most of the time. See Figure 4.13 and Table 4.4.b.

Products grown locally or in season were bought all or most of the time by 45% of respondents living in rural areas, compared with 35% of those living in urban areas. See Table 4.5.c.

Participants who said they already do a lot to protect the environment were the most likely to buy locally-grown products all or most of the time (61%), while respondents who said they do as much as they can (46%) or could do more (30%) were the least likely to do it all or most of the time. See Figure 4.14 and Table 4.5.c.